Flasher



Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES- 1,673,834 Parana oral-ca.

CARL LINDAHL, or'nnwaan, saw .mnsnv, ASSIG-NOR; TOAMERICAN GAS ACCUMULA-TOR ooM-rANY, or ELIZABETH, new JERSEY, A oonronnrronor NEW JERSEY.

FLASHER.

Application filednpril 30, 1925;

My invention relates to a fluid actuated 'levice for permitting anintermittent flow t fluid such as and is particularly adapted forembodiment in what may be termed a flasher for use in lighthouses, buoysor towers on air routes and the like.

Heretotore flashers have been developed which depended upon magneticdevices for effecting the proper operation thereof.

It is an object of my invention to provide a flasher of novelconstruction in which the gas or other fiuich which is afterwardconsumed actuates the mechanisi'n for effecting intermittent flashes.

It is another object to provide a flasher in which a valve and fluidactuated means are mechanically and adjustably connected by novel means.

It is still another object to provide a valve 20 which when open will bepartially or substantially balanced so far fluid pressure is concerned.

It is a further object to provide improv c means ror throttling; flow offluid and at as the same time filtering out foreignmatter.

It is another object to improve certain combinations and mechanicaldetails of construction in a flasher.

Briefly stated in the preferred form of the an invention embodied in'agas flasher, I employ a chamber into which gas under suitable pressureis conducted. There is a valve for controlling the distribution of to aconsuming device such as a burner. A diaphragm or the like is movableunder the influence of the fluid pressure in the fluid chamber. Means isinterposed between said diaphragm and the said valve which upon movementof said diaphragm under fluid pressure, is adapted to cause movement ofsaid valve. The said means may be adjustable so to vary the time ofactiiiation oi the valve and thus vary the period between the flashes.When the device is used as a gas flasher a constantly burning pilotlight is preferably employed'tor igniting the gas flowing atintervals tothe burner.;

In the drawing I have shown for illustrative purposes only. a pref-erredform of the invention, which drawing illustrates a substantially centralsectional view of a gas flasher. In the drawing k 1 indicates a gaschamber into which gas is conducted from an inlet connection 2, which inturn is connected.- to a source of gas Serial No. 27,120.

supply preferably including a reducing valve (not shown) for supplyingthe gas at the desired pressure. 3 indicates a valve block providedwitha valve chamber 4. The block 3 is supported upon andin spacedrelation to the main bodyv block 5 by means of a spider member 6. Theblock 3 is secured, preterably detachably, to the spider 6 by means ofscrews 77. This construction permits a ready removal of the valve block3 in case it becomes necessary to repair or renew the same. burner headwhich may be secured to the block 3.

In the form showm-one side of the chamher 1 is closed by means such asthe diaphragm 9 which may be secured between the lower end ofthe spider6 and the main body block 5, so as to form a gas tight connection.Aspring or the like 10 serves to urge the diaphragm toward the collapsedposition. A tubular sleeve 11 is fixedly secured to the diaphragm 9 bymeans of a nut 12 and a spring abutment 13 may be threaded or otherwiseadjustably secured on the upstanding sleeve 11. A stem 14; may beslidably housed and guided in the sleeve 11 and in order to permit arestricted telescopic movement between the stem 14 and sleeve 11, thelatter. may be slotted as at 15 to receive a pin or key 16 carried bythe lower end of the stem 14:. It will thus be seen that the sleeve andstem may move relatively to each other to a slight extent but accidentalremoval ot' the stem from the sleeve will be prevented. A second springabutment 17 may be thread ed or otherwise adjustably secured on the stem14 and a spring 18 may be interposed between the abutmonts 13- and 17 soas to normally urge the parts 11 and lt into extended position.

The valve block 8 may have a sealing member such as the diaphragm 19secured thereto as by means of a nut 20 which may be apertured toreceive and guide the upper end 21 of the stem 14-. The valve block hasa gas passage 21 connecting the gas chamber 4- with the pipe 22 or otherconnection leading to the jet as will be later described, and it is forsealing this passage that the diaphragm 19 is employed.

In the preferred form the valve 23 when closed rests uponan annular seat25 and the pressure is above the valve and thus normally tends tomaintain the same in 8 indicates what may be termed a closed position.The outlet for the fluid beneath the valve is preferably restricted sothat the flow through the outlet 21 must be at aslower rate than that atwhich the fluid may pass between the seat and the valve so that when thelatter is unseated the fluid pressure on the valve will be partially andin some cases substantially balanced. As one means of providing sucha'restricted outlet I may employ a second inner and concentric valveseat 26 in the chamber 4 and it will be evident that when the valve isin open position, fluid under pressure may enter between the seat 25 andthe valve at a much greater rate than it may pass between the valve andthe inner seat 26. A spring or the like may be positioned above thevalve 23 for urging the same toward the closed position.

In the gas inletpassage to the chamber 1, I preferably form anenlargement which if desired may be formed directly in the base member5. In this enlargement or chamber is packed a quantity of fibrousmaterial suehas asbestos wool 30. This asbestos wool serves to throttlethe passage of gas from the pipe 2 into the chamber 1 and also serves toremove foreign matter such as dust and the like which may sometimes comeover with the gas from a gas container. In order to further control theflow of gas into the chamber 1, I may employ a. needle valve 31 or thelike which may be moved in either direction by means of a knurled nut32. W hen the needle valve 31 is moved inwardly, the fibrous material iscompressed so that the interstices are reduced in size and the flow ofgas consequently throttled. A pipe preferably connected to the samesource of supply as that connected to the pipe 2 conducts gas to thepassage 34 in the burner block 8 and in this block I preferably providea similar form of gas filtering and throttling device as that justdescribed. As shown in the burner block, there is a quantity of fibrousmaterial seated in an enlargement ot the passage 3st. This gas from pipe33 after passing through the fibrous material enters a pipe 36 which isconnected to a pilot burner (not shown) and furnishes a continuoussupply of gas thereto.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Gas under the desired pressure is conducted through the pipe 2 andthrough the fibrous material and into the chamber 1 where the pressurebuilds up and raises or expands the diaphragm 9. W'hen the diaphragm israised to such an extent that the upper end 37 of the sleeve 11 engagesthe abutment 17 on the stem 14; (the spring 18 during this operationbeing compressed), the upper end 21 of the stem acts through the sealingdiaphragm 19 to engage the valve stem 24 and raise the latter againstthe pressure or the spring 27 and the fluid pressure acting above thevalve 23. As soon as the valve 23 is raised slightly, gas flows betweenthe valve and the outer annular seat 25 at a relatively rapid rate andthe pressure there of underneath said valve at least partially balancesthe pressure on the opposite side thereof. As soon as the fluid pressureis partly balanced, the spring 18 which was previously compressedovercomes the pressure of the spring 27 and throws the valve 23 to openposition with a snap action. New with the valve open,the accumulated gasfrom the chamber 1 flows through the con-, necting pipe 38 into thevalve chamber 1, then beneath the valve past the inner valve seat 26down through the passage 21, then through pipe 22 to passage 39 which isconnect-ed'to any suitable type of gas burner 10 on the block 8. As thepilot light is always burning the gas flowing through the passage 39 tothe jet 1O will be ignited so as to give a flash.

The various passages are so proportioned that the gas is consumed at agreater rate than it is permitted to enter the chamber 1 through thepipe 2. It will thus be evident that the gas pressure in the chamber 1gradually diminishes and as it diminishes the spring 27 and the gaspressure acting above the valve 23 and the spring 10 acting above thediaphragm causes the latter to be forced inwardly or to collapsedposition.

When the valve 23 is closed the spring 27 and whatever fluid pressuremay be. in the chamber 1 maintains the valve in closed position until itis again actuated as previously described.

' It will be obvious that it there was a rigid connection at all timesbetween the valve stem 24 and the diaphragm 9 that each very slightincrease in pressure would raise the valve and there would be asuccession of very brief flashes or flickers; in other words, therewould be what might be termed a chattering ot the valve.

It will be equally plain that it the valve is actuated by the diaphragmonly when the upper end 37 on the sleeve 11 engages the spring abutment17, the farther apart the parts and 17 are positioned, the less frequentwill be the actuation of the valve. I have, therefore, shown theabutment 17 being adjustably mounted along the stem 14 so that it may bepositioned at any practicable distanee from the end 37 of the sleeve soas to vary the number of flashes per unit of time between any desiredpracticable limits.

While the invention has been described in great detail and a preferredform illustrated as embodied in a gas flasher, I do not wish to belimited to the form shown since changes may be made within the scopeofthe invention as defined in the appended claims and certain featuresherein disclosed may be used ill to advantage in connections other thanhere illustrated;

I claim:

1. in a device of the character described, a member provided with afluid chamber, a diaphragm movable under the influence of fluid in saidchamber, a fluid consuming device, a valve to control the flow of fluidfrom said cn-amber to said fluid consuming device, means for connectingsaid valve and said diaphragm for moving said valve in one direction,said means including a pair of telescopic members and an abutment on oneof said members to be engaged by said other member when said diaphragmmoved by fluid in said chamber to move said valve.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, and means for moving said valvewith a snap action when the movement thereof has been initiated by saiddiaphragm and telescopic connection.

3'. In a device of the character described, a member provided with afluid chamber and having an inlet through which fluid enters saidchamber, a fluid consuming device, a passage connecting said fluidchamber and said fluid consuming device, a valve of relatively largearea for controlling communication through said passage, said valve whenclosed being held to its scat partially by fluid pressure in said fluidchamber, and means connecting said diaphragm and valve whereby when thepressure in said fluid chamber increases, said valve will be moved oilits seat so as to open communication between said chamber and said fluidconsuming device.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 and "esilient means for causingsaid valve to move away from its seat with a snap action.

9. The combination defined in claim 3' and its s ;at.

6. in a device of the character described, a member provided with afluid chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber and adapted tobe expanded by the pressure of fluid in said chamber, a fluid eonsumingdevice, means including a passageway for conducting fluid from saidchamber to said fluid consuming device, a valve for controlling the saidpassageway, a" spring. constantly urging said valve toward its seat, andmeans interposed between the said diaphragm and the said valve andincluding a resilient member for causing initial opening movement ofsaid valve upon expansive movement of said diaphragm which resilientmember is adapted to be placed under coinpressive tension by'theexpansive movement of said diaphragm and to effect quick further openingmovement of said valve after the said initial opening movement thereof.

7. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a. member provided with a chamber adapted to receivea combustible gaseous fluid, a diaphragm extending across.

and closing said chamber, a burner, means including a passageway forconducting said fluid to said burner, a valve for controlling thepassage of fluid through said passageway, a rod having connection at oneend with said diaphragm and terminating at its other end in operativerelation to the said valve, said rod being provided with anadjustable'abutment in spaced relation to the said diaphragm, a tubularsleeve movably mounted upon said rod intermediate the said diaphragm andthe abutment on said rod, the outer end of said sleeve normallyterminating in spaced relation to the said abutment, and the said sleevebeing also provided with an adjustable abutment, and a coiled springsurrounding thesaid sleeve and rod and contacting at its opposite endsWith the said abutments and tending to separate the same, the expansivemovement of the said diaphragm causing outward movement of the saidsleeve to compress the said spring to cause initial opening movement ofthe said valve after which the said spring expands to cause a quickfurther opening movement thereof.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a memberprovided with a chamber adapted to receive a combustible fluid, adiaphragm extending across and closing said chamber, resilient meanswhich tends to cause collapsing movement of the diaphragn'i, a; burner,means including a passageway for conducting fluid from said chamber tosaidcburner, the said passageway including an intermediate chamber ofwide area, a valve of wide area located in said chamber, concentricseats for the said valve, the diameter of the inner seat beingrelatively small and that of the outer seat being relatively great, thesaid valve having a stem extending through a portion of the passagewaysubstantially at right angles to the said diaphragm, said stemterminating in a chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber withwhich the end of the stem is in contact, a rod having connection withthe said diaphragm and extending into the said last mentioned chamber inalinement with the stem of the said valve and being adapted to contactwith the said last mentioned diaphragm, an adjustable abut- .mentmounted on said rod in spaced relation to the first named diaphragm,tubular sleeve movably mounted on said rod and connected with the saiddiaphragm, the outer end of said sleeve terminating normally in spacedrelation to the said abutment, the said sleeve being also provided withan adjustable abutment, and a coil-ed spring located intermediate thesaid abutment-s which spring is adapted to be placed under tension uponexpansive movement of the first named diaphragm, which spring operatesthrough the said rod and through the stem oi the said valve to causeinitial opening movement of the said valve and to thereafter cause quickfurther opening movement of the said valve.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a memberprovided with a combustible fluid receiving chamber, a diaphragmextending across and closing said chamber, a burner, means including apas sageway for conducting fluid from said chamber to the said burner,the said passageway including a chamber or relatively widetransversearea, a portion of the said passageway leading from the bottom of saidchamber, a valve of relatively wide area located in said last mentionedchamber and adapted to control the passage of fluid through saidpassageway, the pressure of fluid in the said last mentioned chambertending to hold the said valve in closed position, seats for the saidvalve which are concentrically located with respect to each other, thediameter of the inner seat being relatively small as compared with thediameter of the outer seat whereby when initial opening movement of thesaid valve is effected the said fluid flows more rapidly underneath thesaid valve and past the outer seat therefor than it is permitted to flowpastthe inner seat, whereby the downward pressure of the fluid upon thesaid valve is partially counterbalanced by the fluid underneath the saidvalve, and means operating to cause initial opening movement of the saidvalve and to thereafter cause quick further opening movement thereof.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a memberprovided with a chamber adapted to receive a combustible gaseous fluidunder pressure, a flexible diaphragm extending across said chamber,which diaphragm is adapted to expand and contract in accordance with thevariation of pressure of the fluid in said chamber, a burner, meansincluding a passageway for conducting said fluid to said burner, a valvefor controlling the flow of gas through said passageway, and meansinterposed between the said passageway and the said valve for effectingfirst an initial opening movement of the said valve and for thereaftercausing further quick opening movement of said valve.

11. In a device of the character described, a fluid chamber, a diaphragmunder the influence of fluid pressure in said chamber, a spring forurging said diaphragm to a collapsed position, a valve chamber, meansfor conducting fluid from said fluid chamber to said valve chamber,afluid consuming device, means for conducting fluid "from said valvechamber to said. fluid consuming device, a valve for controlling saidlast mentioned means, a spring tor urging said valve toward its seat,means actuated by said diaphragm for moving said valve oil of its seat,said means including a pair of telescopic members having a limitedmovement relatively to each other, a spring for" urging said telescopicmembers apart, and abutment means on one of said telescopic members tobe engaged by the other of said telescopic members whereby said springbetween said telescopic members will be com-- 'diaphragm extendingacross said chamber and adapted to be expanded by the pressure of fluidin said chamber, a fluid-consuming device, means including a passagewayfor conducting fluid from said chamber to said fluid-consuming device, avalve for controlling the said passageway, a spring constantly urgingsaid valve toward its seat, means interposed between the said dia phragmand the said valve for causing initial opening movement of said valveupon expansive movement of said diaphragm, which means includes aresilient member which is adapted to be placed under compressive tensionby the expansive movement of said diaphragm and to effect quick furtheropening movement of said valve after the said initial opening movementthereof, and a spring for urging said diaphragm in one direction.

CARL LINDAHL;

